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Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) wants to fill the GOP vacancy at Federal Communications Commission with Michael Powell, chief of staff in the Justice Department’s antitrust division and son of retired Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Colin Powell. But Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.), who doesn’t share McCain’s desire to auction digital TV licenses but does share McCain’s presidential aspirations, isn’t a Powell man.
Lott supports Harold Furchtgott-Roth, an economist with the House Commerce Committee. That doesn’t square with McCain’s plans, so the Arizona Republican has decided to dis FCC Commissioner Rachelle Chong, a moderate Republican whose term expires June 30, in apparent hopes of creating an opening for Powell.
Then, of course, there is the Democratic seat of venerable Commissioner James Quello that will open soon, which supposedly has FCC General Counsel Bill Kennard’s name on it.
So lawmakers, being true to their political calling, are scheming to negotiate a deal with the Clinton administration on a package of three FCC nominees.
Chong, reacting to the flurry of politicking, publicly declared her interest in reappointment last week. Beam her up, Mr. President.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, all is well. Blair Levin, chief of staff to FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, said I have it all backwards. Some of Hundt’s best friends are engineers, Levin seemed to suggest. And, of course, an engineer’s best friend is his/her job.
… Jonathan Cohen, one of the FCC’s best and brightest, has been named associate chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
… PCIA steps up legal fight over FCC payphone compensation rules.
… CTIA filed amicus brief in Seattle federal court over antenna siting dispute in San Juan County.
… Clinton White House, despite having a reported $1.1 million in the cookie jar, is having trouble paying InTouch USA for a $41,000 cellular phone bill.
… The President’s Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection moves into public/industry outreach phase.
There is widespread recognition that the nature and scope of the threat to America’s critical infrastructures has changed as a result of advances in technology, particularly information technology and telecommunications,” said Tom Marsh, an aerospace executive and chairman of the commission.
